An increasing number of kids are being infected with the novel coronavirus along with serious symptoms in the fatal second wave. The city-based doctors on Thursday urged parents not to take their kids out and expose them to the virus.
‘Parents must be careful in recognizing COVID-19 symptoms in kids, as early intervention would help in better outcomes.’
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Earlier, the novel coronavirus showed very mild or no effect in children. However, in its second run, the virus is turning out to be much severe for both children as well as adults under 45. Read More..
"Lots of new cases of COVID-19 infections in children are coming in this second wave and the numbers are much, much higher than they were earlier," Dr Krishan Chugh, Director and head of the department of paediatrics at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon, told IANS.
In most children who are affected by COVID-19, the symptoms present are mild fever, cough, cold and abdominal issues. Some are even complaining of body pain, headache, diarrhoea and vomiting.
The World Health Organization (WHO), in an October 2020 document, reported that Covid-19 is much less frequent in children than in adults. Children and adolescents represented about 8 per cent of reported cases (and 29 per cent of the global population).
But in the second wave, "all age group of children, even below 1 year, are getting affected", Dr Sarita Sharma, Senior Consultant Pediatrician at PSRI Hospital Saket, told IANS.
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The situation is far different from last year for the children.
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"There are few cases that have escalated to pneumonia, and required oxygen and other respiratory support," Chugh said.
According to Dr. Gupta, the saving grace is that compared to adults, the rate of pneumonia in kids is less.
Some kids are also reporting more severe complications like multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) -- a rare inflammatory condition with persistent fever. It generally occurs 2-4 weeks after the onset of Covid.
The experts said that mild symptoms in children should not be ignored, and parents must look out for symptoms such as diarrheoa, breathing problems and lethargy, particularly after fever, said Chugh.
Parents must be careful in recognizing such problems in kids, as early intervention would help in better outcome.
"If the fever persists for 5-6 days, parents must monitor the blood pressure of their kids. However, there is no need for checking their oxygen levels with pulse oximeters, as they are highly unlikely to face oxygen saturation. The devices are unfit for kids," Gupta informed.
While vaccines for kids are still under trial and may take months before it can be tested and proved beneficial for kids, the only remedy is to wear masks, maintain hand hygiene and social distancing.
"Do not take your kids out and expose them to the virus. Avoid every possible reason for infections, even via you," Chugh advised.
Source-IANS